memeorandum: Qassem Soleimani Haunted the Arab World (Kim Ghattas/The Atlantic)

8:10 PM ET, January 3, 2020

Top Items:

Trump Thinks Attacking Iran Will Get Him Reelected. He's Wrong. — Beginning in 2011, and continuing through the next year, Donald Trump began obsessively predicting that President Obama would start a war with Iran in order to be reelected. Trump stated it publicly, on at least a half-dozen occasions …

Discussion: Redstate, Quartz, NBC News, Reason, New York Times, No More Mister Nice Blog, Talking Points Memo and CANNONFIRE

Speaker Nancy Pelosi:

Pelosi Statement on Airstrike in Iraq Against High-Level Iranian Military Officials — Washington, D.C. - Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued this statement after the Trump Administration conducted a deadly airstrike targeting Iranians and Iraqis at the Baghdad International Airport:

Wesley Clark / Washington Post:

Killing a top Iranian military leader was a whack-for-tat move — Soleimani was no stateless outlaw like Osama bin Laden. This U.S. action sets us on a dangerous path of escalation. — Like the killing of Osama bin Laden, the strike on Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad …

Discussion: Esquire, Slate, The Times of Israel and The Week

Nahal Toosi / Politico:

How Trump decided to kill Iran's Soleimani — Hours before the U.S. military sent a Reaper drone to kill one of the most wanted men on the planet, President Donald Trump was relaxing at his palatial Florida properties. In the morning, he played 18 holes at Trump International, his West Palm Beach golf club.

Discussion: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, Bloomberg, NBC News and HuffPost

Avi Selk / Washington Post:

Soleimani posted memes antagonizing Trump on social media — Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, who was killed in a U.S. airstrike in Iraq early Friday, wasn't just an infamous terrorist organizer and one of the regime's most powerful officials — he was also one of President Trump's social media antagonists.

Discussion: The Federalist, Michigan Advance, Right Wing Watch, Daily Sounder and Mediaite

David E. Sanger / New York Times:

For Trump, a Risky Gamble to Deter Iran — The goal was to prove American resolve in the face of Iranian attacks. Now, American officials have no doubt the Iranians will respond — but they don't know how quickly, or how furiously. — President Trump's decision to strike and kill …

Discussion: Axios, Associated Press, Vox, Reason, Quartz, Breitbart, The Drive, Billy Penn, The Week and DNyuz

Robin Wright / New Yorker:

The Killing of Qassem Suleimani Is Tantamount to an Act of War — On orders from President Trump, the United States killed Major General Qassem Suleimani, the leader of Iran's élite Quds Force and the mastermind of its military operations across the Middle East, in an overnight air strike at Baghdad's International Airport.

Discussion: The Guardian, Associated Press, New York Times, MarketWatch, Washington Post, Politico, The Diplomat, USA Today, CNN, Mother Jones and VICE, more at Mediagazer »

New York Times:

Iranian General Traveled With Impunity, Until U.S. Drones Found Him — President Trump's decision to kill General Suleimani was one that his predecessors had rejected, fearing it would lead to war. — WASHINGTON — One night in January 2007, American Special Operations commandos tracked …

Discussion: Associated Press, CNN, Alternet.org, The Guardian, Politico, WND, The Week, The American Independent and DNyuz

Associated Press:

Trump says Iranian should have been ‘taken out’ years ago — PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump said Friday that the targeted killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani was ordered because he was “plotting to kill” many Americans. — In his first comments since the early Friday strike …

Discussion: NBC News, HuffPost, Daily Kos, Breitbart, The Hill, The Gateway Pundit, WTOP, The American Independent and WGN-TV

Mehdi Hasan / The Intercept:

Four Years Ago, Trump Had No Clue Who Iran's Suleimani Was. Now He May Have Kicked Off WWIII. — President Donald Trump makes a video call to the troops stationed worldwide at the Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla., on Dec. 24, 2019. — Photo: Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images

Discussion: The Week, The Guardian, New York Times, The Dispatch, Townhall, DNyuz, CNN, FOX31 Denver and New Republic

George Packer / The Atlantic:

Killing Soleimani Was Worse Than a Crime — There was a case for killing Major General Qassem Soleimani. For two decades, as the commander of the Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force, he executed Iran's long game of strategic depth in the Middle East—arming and guiding proxy militias in Lebanon …

Discussion: New York Times, Los Angeles Times and Associated Press

NBC News:

Planned attacks against U.S. targets in Syria, Lebanon were reason for Soleimani strike, say officials — Targets in Syria under threat included military outposts, officials said. In Lebanon, Soleimani was allegedly planning attacks on diplomatic targets.

Discussion: The Economic Collapse and Common Dreams

Ray Takeyh / Politico:
Why the Death of an Iranian Commander Won't Mean World War III

Discussion: Associated Press, The Daily Beast, One America News Network, Jacobin, The Miscellanies, The Hill and Breitbart

Abigail Tracy / Vanity Fair:
“The Administration's Track Record Doesn't Inspire Confidence”: After Killing Soleimani …

Discussion: Wired, The American Independent and Washington Post

Barbara Slavin / New York Times:
Qassim Suleimani's Killing Will Unleash Chaos

Discussion: Washington Post, Vox, Lawyers, Guns & Money, Talking Points Memo and DNyuz

CNN:
Why now? Lawmakers question timing and legality of Trump's strike against Iranian commander

Discussion: Slate, Q13 FOX News, The Daily Caller, KTLA and FOX2now.com

Suzanne Maloney / Washington Post: Iran knows how to bide its time. Don't expect immediate retaliation for Soleimani.

Marc Champion / Bloomberg:
Iran Options Seem Narrow as It Seeks to Avenge Slain General

Discussion: DNyuz

Noga Tarnopolsky / Los Angeles Times:
Israel had advance notice of U.S. plan to kill Iranian general Suleimani, report says

Discussion: Raw Story

Sean Illing / Vox:
An expert on why the Soleimani assassination was almost certainly illegal

Discussion: The Hill, Washington Examiner and Raw Story

New York Times:
Qassim Suleimani, Master of Iran's Intrigue, Built a Shiite Axis of Power in Mideast

Discussion: GQ, Axios, Breitbart, Mother Jones, NB Blog, americamagazine.org, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, The Guardian, DNyuz, Townhall, Raw Story, VICE, Faithwire, JustOneMinute and Althouse

Bloomberg:
Trump's Iran Strike Planned Swiftly With Tight Circle of Aides

Discussion: BuzzFeed News, Washington Post, Vanity Fair and BBC

Richard Sisk / Military.com:
Thousands More US Troops Deploying to Middle East in Response to Iranian Threats

Discussion: Task & Purpose

McClatchy Washington Bureau:
Trump has considered killing Iran's Soleimani since last summer, sources say

Discussion: Raw Story

Tobias Hoonhout / National Review:
U.S. To Deploy Thousands of Troops to Middle East Following Soleimani Strike

Discussion: Washington Free Beacon and BizPac Review

U.S. Embassy / U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Iraq:
Security Alert - U.S. Embassy Baghdad, Iraq, January 3, 2020

Discussion: Associated Press, CNN, Task & Purpose, Washington Monthly, Q13 FOX News, Talking Points Memo, Daily Kos, DNyuz, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, Gizmodo, New York Times, The Atlantic, Sara A. Carter, WFLA-TV, KTLA and WTVR-TV

Nancy Dillon / New York Daily News:

Ex-Fox News reporter Courtney Friel claims Donald Trump invited her to Trump Tower to ‘kiss’ — Former Fox News reporter Courtney Friel says Donald Trump called her with a creepy come-on before he became president — while they were both married. — Friel, who sometimes worked as a fill …

Discussion: Alternet.org, POLITICUSUSA, The Hill, Mediaite, HuffPost and The Week

Edward Helmore / The Guardian: Former Fox News reporter says Trump invited her to his office ‘so we can kiss’

Jamie Ross / The Daily Beast:
Ex-Fox Reporter Says Trump Asked Her to Visit His Office for a ‘Kiss’

Discussion: Mediaite

Lisa Friedman / New York Times:

Trump Rule Would Exclude Climate Change in Infrastructure Planning — WASHINGTON — Federal agencies would no longer have to take climate change into account when they assess the environmental impacts of highways, pipelines and other major infrastructure projects, according to a Trump administration plan …

Discussion: Mother Jones and Axios

Reid J. Epstein / New York Times:

D.N.C. Tells Pollsters to Do More Polls — There hasn't been a single poll in weeks that could help the Democratic presidential candidates qualify for the next debate. The party blames the polling organizations. — NORTH CONWAY, N.H. — The morning after the Democrats' last debate in December …

Discussion: Washington Post

Ryan C. Brooks / BuzzFeed News:
Trump's Strike Has Drawn A Sharp Line Between The Democrats Running For President

Discussion: IJR and The Week

Julie Zauzmer / Washington Post:

United Methodist Church is expected to split over gay marriage, fracturing the nation's third-largest denomination — Church leaders said Friday they had agreed to spin off a “traditionalist Methodist” denomination, and allow the remainder of the denomination to permit same-sex marriage …

Discussion: The Hill, The Daily Caller, Meduza.io, National Review, IJR, Disrn and WND

New York Times:
United Methodist Church Announces Plan to Split Over Same-Sex Marriage

Discussion: The Week and TheBlaze

Clare Foran / CNN:

McConnell defends communication with White House on impeachment and says it's a ‘fantasy that the speaker of the House will get to hand design’ trial — Sen. McConnell: House Dems ‘flinched’ on impeachment — Washington (CNN)Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Friday firmly rejected …

Discussion: Redstate and Townhall

Brooke Singman / Fox News:
Impeachment impasse deepens as McConnell rejects Pelosi's bid to shape trial: ‘Their turn is over’

Discussion: Redstate and The Hill

Politico:

The Hill's owner seeks potential buyers, investors — Under fire for its role in promoting alleged Ukraine conspiracy theories, the D.C.-based publication faces new questions about its future. — Jimmy Finkelstein in 2012. Jimmy Finkelstein, owner of The Hill, is shopping his publication …

more at Mediagazer »

Wall Street Journal:

Carlos Ghosn Sneaked Out of Japan in Box Used for Audio Gear — Two men, providing names matching those of private security contractors, flew with Ghosn to Turkey — A pair of men with names matching those of American security contractors accompanied former auto executive Carlos Ghosn …

Discussion: Law & Crime, Al Jazeera, Financial Times and Bloomberg

Sarah Gamard / delawareonline:

Two Delaware GOP leaders under fire for Facebook posts called ‘homophobic,’ ‘anti-Semitic’ — Two of Delaware's Republican leaders are under fire after posting comments on Facebook that fellow party members have deemed “homophobic” and “anti-Semitic.” — New Castle County Republican Party …

Discussion: The Hill, The GOP of New Castle County and Delaware State News

Harmeet Kaur / CNN:
Two Delaware GOP leaders are facing backlash over homophobic and anti-Semitic comments

Discussion: PinkNews and Delaware State House …

United States Department of State:

Senior State Department Officials On the Situation in Iraq — WASHINGTON, D.C. — MODERATOR: So I'm going to have [Senior State Department Official One] start out and just give a very - a very - we actually mostly want to make this Q&A, so [Senior State Department Official One] is just going to have a few remarks here.